Door latch



NQv.16,1937. mwen 1 f 099145161` DooR LATCH;

' Fi1ed April 14, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 1 l r E-. f

1N V EN TOR.

A TTORNE YS.

Nov. 16, 1937. n H. P swEl-:T

` DooR LATCH* 5 Filed Appii14`, v193e;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In. Y 4f. f.. M NNE.: n n n .2

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A TTORNEYS l Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s noon LATCH Herbert P. sweet, Providence, a. I.

Application April 14,'1936, Serial No. 74,316

26 Claims.

This invention relates to door latches, and in particular to door latches for motor `vehicle doors; and has for one object the provision of a simple and inexpensive latch constructionand keeper means adapted to clamp and rmly grip the bolt member upon contact with the same irrespective of the amount of'subsequent movement of the door towards a closed position.

n Another object of the invention is to provide latch or keeper means which will readily yield to receive the latch bolt and is so arranged to cooperatewith the sides of the bolt immediately upon contact thereby to prevent any unnecessary slamming of the door to bring about engagement of the latch parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. yieidable keeper construction which is capable of firmly'clamping and holding the bolt member against rattling or twisting movement of the members of the door jamb incident to the operation of the motor Vehicle.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide keeper means for gripping the bolt member from opposite sides to be engaged and actuated therevby in which any subsequent movement in either direction of the bolt after engagement by said keeper means further serves to tighten the grip thereon and prevent accidental opening oi or unintentional unlatching of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide movable keeper members to be engaged by the bolt member for causing movement of said members toward the bolt member and in a direction opposite to the latching movement of the latter as the door is being swung to a latched position, in which said keeper members are capable of further tightening their grip thereon in response to subsequent movement of the bolt.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the latch or keeper member embodying my invention and shown in an open position opposite the bolt member prior to entrance by the same;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, oi the latch construction illustrated in Fig. l showing the bolt member partially in contact with the keeper parts and about to enter the bolt chamber;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view. in elevation, of the latch construction illustrated in Fig. 1 withthe cover plate removed showing the bolt member in its final closed position and positively engaged by the cooperating keeper parts;

Fig. 4 is a plan view in section taken on the line I-I of Fig. 3 but with the cover plate in position;

Fig. 5 yis a perspective view illustrating the relative positions of the parts prior to entrance ofthe bolt member in the keeper means:

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the base member of the latch casing;

Fig. '7 is -a detail in perspective of the mounting plate for supporting the movable latch members;

Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective showing a detail of one of the movable latch or keeper members;

Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective o! the keeper member illustrated in Fig. 8 as viewed from the opposite side;

Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of one of the incline support members for the keeper member; and

Fig. 1l is a detail in perspective showing one of the operating levers.

Heretofore, one conventional form of door latch construction used in connection with motor vehicle doors has utilized a keeper or strike plate having a pair of spaced abutments or stops projecting outwardly from a side face adjoining the door jamb and adapted to cooperate with the side portion of the retractlble bolt member carried by the door in which the spring pressure behind the bolt was used to hold the latter against tlie stop and retain the door in a closed or partially closed position. However, in the use of this prior type of latch mechanism the latching effect was not entirely reliable dueto the necessity of slamming the door to bring the latch parts in a latched position. In such a case, the jarring action produced when the bolt was shot caused the bolt to ricochet from the rear abutment and be received by the forward stop so that the door was loosely held in position to prevent it from opening. This was objectionable since the boltl was not firmly forced against the stop member so that the door was capable oi! weaving up and down to produce rattling of the latch parts upon twisting motion of the motor vehicle frame and body. In order to avoid such difliculties and provide an improved latch construction which will not be subject to loosening or rattling, I have provided a latch adapted to bey mounted. on a door'jamb into which the bolt member protrudes, the latch having keeper means which will engage at least two sides of the normally projecting bolt and be moved thereby into clamping engagement therewith to rmly grip and hold the same in response -to the lateral movement of the bolt; and in order to accomplish these advantageous results I have provided a plurality of relatively movable clamping members mounted for sliding movement towards and from the bolt and arranged to be operated by means disposed in the path of travel of the bolt and adapted to contact with the latter to cause them to slide and tightly engage and be clamped against the bearing surface of the bolt upon the lateral closing movement of the bolt. Furthermore, I have provided the bearing surfaces of the clamping members and the cooperating bolt parts with complemental tapered portions which will provide a wedging action to force the clamping member more tightly against the bolt upon outward lateral movement thereof. In order to accommodate for any twisting of the vehicle body and frame I have provided yieldable means for supporting the clamping members, and the bolt member is so constructed as to be capable of rocking while in a positively clamped relation to permit adjustment of the latch mechanism relative to the movements of the door jamb. To accommodate for wear in the various parts of the latch mechanism I have further provided resilient means connecting the clamping members and their respective operating elements in order to provide a yielding or take-up action thereof; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, I designates the latch or keeper casing which may be made of suitable material, such as pressed metal, cast metal, formed to the desired shape, and within which are mounted the latch parts. In the specic latch construction illustrated in the drawings, the casing I0 is shown as being of generally rectangular shape and of a channellike construction comprising a base or bottom plate I2 having a pair of oppositely disposed spaced side walls I3 and I4 which are formed integrally with the base plate I2 and bent upwardly at generally right angles to the plane thereof. The front and ends of the casing I0 are open, and the bottom plate I2 is provided with holes I5 which are suitably counter-sunk and adapted to receive the heads of suitable -fasteners, such as screws or rivets. for securing the latch structure to the jamb portion of the vehicle body. The side walls I3 and I4 of the casing I9 extend longitudinally along the entire length of the base plate I2, and the terminal extremity of each side wall is provided with a laterally projecting flange I5 extending inwardly therefrom winch is formed with suitable threaded apertures I1 for thereception of screws I8 whereby a front cover plate or housing box I9 may be detachably mounted and secured to the casing I0 to enclose the latch mechanism. The medial portion of the side wall I3 of the base plate I2, the adjacent forward side wall of the casing III, and the front cover plate I9 are each out away to form a transverse slot or opening 20 for the reception and entrance of the bolt member 2I. The bolt 2| is indicated in Fig. 4 as be ing attached to and normally projecting from the free edge of the vehicle door 22, which is shown in dot and dash outline, and the bolt is so arranged that it may be laterally retracted and withdrawn side-wise by sliding movement from the bolt opening 20 in the latch casing I0 by any suitable means, such as the plate 23, operated by any suitable mechanism as is well known in the usual door latch constructions for imparting a sliding and retractive movement to the bolt to unlatch and open the door.

The bolt member 2| may be of any suitable construction, however, as shown in the drawings it is preferably so shaped as to provide inclined edges 25 and 26 on the transverse sides of the bolt to conform substantially to the shape of the keeper parts which they engage within. the casing I0 to be gripped thereby, as will be hereinafter described. In some instances, it may be desirable'to provide a bolt 'construction which will permit the tapered edges 25 and 25 to rock with reference to other mating portions of the latch mechanism and also yield with the vehicle body movements so as to adjust and align the respective tapered bearing portions and compensate ior twisting of the vehicle body and frame. In such a case, the arrangement will be as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, wherein it is shown as comprising a bracket or support 28 which is provided with a pair of spaced, integral, tongue members 29 and 39 projecting outwardly from the outer or front face ofthe bracket, the contour of the leading end portion of the tongue 38 being curved or rounded as indicated at 3I.

A flange 32 of suitable shape projectsoutwardly from the rear or inner face of the bracket 28 to which the movable bolt operating plate 23 is suitably connected, as by means of rivets 33, for operation of the bolt member 2I. Swivelly mounted on a stud 35 in the space between the tongues 29 and 30 respectively, is the rock member 35 having a central portion 31 of partially curved or cylindrical form and two oppositely disposed side abutment members 38 and 39 in tegrally formed therewith, the members 38 and 39 having inwardlyl converging side walls which extend radially outwardly from the central portion 31. The lateral or inner end faces 40 and 4I of the tongue 29 and those indicated at 42 and 43 on the tongue 30 are preferably tapered to conform to the tapered side walls 44, 45, 49 and 41 respectively, on the abutment members 38 and 39 respectively. Also, the lateral edges of the abutment members 38 and 39 carry the inclined'or tapered surfaces 25 and 25 which are to be engaged and held by the latch or keeper members within the casing I0.

In order to firmly grip and clamp the inclined sides 25 and 25 of the bolt member 2I after it enters the bolt opening 20 in the casing I0 and the cover plate I9, and to hold the bolt in a positively latched position in the keeper box, the keeper means comprises a pair of opposed, movable clamping blocks 50 and 5I which project in the path of travel of the bolt 2l and are slidably mounted for relative movement towards and from one another upon a support or plate member 52, the latter being adapted to llt within and be positioned inside of the casing I0. The support member 52 comprises a bottom plate 53 of elongated shape having upturned ends 54 and 55 and open sides, the ends 54 and 55 being formed integrally with the bottom plate 53 and bent upwardly at generally right angles to the plane thereof. The mid-portion of the bottom plate 53 is perforated to provide a set of spaced elongated struts 55 and 51 which are depressed below the plane of the bottom plate and extend longitudinally therealong to form rib-like members projecting downwardly from the under- 9,699,456 vside thereof and mate with complementary shaped slots 58 and 58 formed in the Ibottom plate |2 of the casing |8 for aligning the support 52 therein. The length of the struts 55 and 51 is preferably made shorter than that of the slots 58 and 58 in the plate I2 so that the support plate 52 carrying the clamping blocks 58 and 5| may yield and slide longitudinally of the casing I8 in response tov any twistingmotion of the vehicle body. Suitable resilient means, such as leaf or compression springs 58 may be placed be'- tween terminal ends 5I and 55. of the plate 53 and the adjacent end walls ofthe casing |8 in order to provide for the yielding movement of the keeper support plate 58. If desired, resilient rubber blocks may be utilized to accomplish this result in place of the springs 88. The corners of the terminalend walls 58 and 55 maybe undercut sulciently to permit passage thereof under the flanges l5 of casing I8 during yielding of the keeper support plate 52.

'I'he clamping blocks 58 and'5l are provided with oppositely inclined edges 5| and 82 which will engage and grip the edge surfaces and 28 respectively, on the bolt member 2|. The blocks 58 and 5| are provided with tapered surfaces 55 and 58 at their base portions and are supported l in bearing engagement for movement along the guiding surface of the incline members 55 and 88 which are'ilxedly mounted by means of a series of pins 81 projecting outwardlyfrom the side face thereof, as shown in Fig.,10, and adapted to extend into suitable holes 68 formed in the base `plate 58 of the keeper'support 52. 'Ihe taper of the guiding surface of the members 85 and 85 is about 15 degrees to the horizontal while that of the edge of the keeper clamping blocks which engage the bolt portions 25 and 28 is about 5 degrees from the horizontal.

In order that the bolt 2| will be gripped automatically by the clamping members 58 and 5| as it enters the recess 28, a pair of operating levers 18 and 1| are'provided for moving the clampingy members, one for each member, and the levers are mounted for swinging movement in slots 12 and 13 formed in the clamping blocks 58 and'5l,

respectively. The levers 18 and 1| are pivotally mounted on suitable pins 14 and 15. respectively, which extend into the slots 12 and 18 and are fixedly fastened to the base plate 58 and project therefrom through elongated slots 11 and 18 formed in the respective side walls of the clamping blocks 58 and 5| adjacent the baseplate 55. Pins 88 and 8| are mounted in the sloted side wall of the blocks 58 and 5| and are adapted to extend into elongated slots 82 and 88 respectively, which are formed in the base plate 58, and serve for the purpose of maintaining and guiding the blocks 58 and 5| laterally along the same angular path of sliding movement toward and from the respective clamping surfaces 25gand 28 carried by the bolt 'member 2|. i i

The operating levers 18 and 1| are identical in construction and as illustrated in Fig. 11, the lever 1| comprises a plate member 85 of a Senerally arcuate shaped body having a concave inner edge 85 and a convex outer edge 81 with a projecting tang 88 formed integral with' the latter edge and extending outwardly therefrom. I'he edge 88a of the tang 88 'ist concave and shaped to provide a guiding surface for engaging the bolt portions 25 and 28. Formed at the heel part 58 of the plate member 85 is an aperture 88 which is adapted to t over the stud 15 and pivot thereon. An elongated arcuate slot 8| is formed in the front part of the body of the plate 85 into which extend pins 82 or 83 which are connected ,to the clamping blocks 58 and 5| lrespectively, yto 'slidably move the clamping blocks up and down theadjacent incline guiding surfaces 88 and 85 on the incline members 55 and 58 respectively, so as to cause yrelative movement oi' the clamping blocks toward andfrom each other. 'I'he members 55 and 58 are provided with recesses 85 and 81 respectively, to receive the projecting front body part of the plate 85 carrying the arcuate slot 8l as the levers 18 and 1| swing aboutthe pivot pins 14 and 15. V'Ihe pins 82 and 88 each pass through the arcuate slot 8| in each of the levers 18 and 1| respectively, while the terminal ends of the pin 85 are mounted ina pair of bearing blocks 88 each of which is yieldablyA arranged in a recess 88 in the clamping'block 5| for sliding movement therein. A spring |88 in- 1 terposed between the bearing blocks `88 andthe adjacent side wall of the recess 88 serves .to urge the block 88 against the pin 88 so as to .take-up for wear in the keeper parts and also to press the pin88 against'the adjacent edges of the arcuate slot 8|. Similarly, the pin 82 is mounted for yieldingv movement in the clamping block 58.

In the operation ofthe latch, it will be obl served that as the vehicle door is swung toward a closed positionthe tapered surfaces 25 and 28 of the bolt member 2| will contact with the forward edges of the clamping blocks 58 and 5| to spread them apart sufficiently to provide a throat entrancel which will permit them to enter the recessy 28. `As .the boltentersit will engage the opposed guiding surfaces 88a of the keeper operating'levers 18 and 1| so as to move the clamping blocks 58 and 5| in which these levers are mounted along the guiding surface of the incline members 85 and 85 respectively, so as to engage the tapered surfaces 5| and 82 of the blocks with the tapered surfaces 25 and 25 respectively, of the bolt 2|.. Thus, as the lever 1| swings around the pin 15 as a pivot, the front part of the plate body 85 moves downwardly into the recess 81 in the incline member 58 to cause the sides of the arcuate slot 8| to press against the pin 88 which is mounted in the block 88 to laterally move the clamping block 5| in the direction toward the bolt 2|.

VIt will be apparent that the further the bolt 2| moves inwardly into the bolt recess 28 the more the clamping blocks 58 and 5| will be moved outwardly by the spreading action of the bolt 2| on the keeper levers 18 and 1|. Hence, the construction is such that the grip of the clamping blocks 58 and 5| takes hold on the bolt all the way in swinging ,the door to a latched and closed position, and the bolt'2l is prevented from moving outwardly when once gripped as the door is being further closed. To open the door and release the bolt, the bolt 2| is retracted or withdrawn side- `wise from within .the keeper blocks 58 and 5| in a direction substantially in the plane of the door.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it tobe understood that I reserve the privilege -of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1A A keeper device for the latch bnlt of a door c^mnrising acasing, a support therein presenting 'spaced inclinedv surfaces. and spaced opposed wedge-shaped clamping members slidable in saidl casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one directicn.

2. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a. door Comprising a casing, a support therein presenting spaced inclined surfaces, spaced opposed wedgeshaped clamping members slidable in said casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one direction, and pivoted opposed bolt engaging elements projecting into the path of travel of said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to actuate said clamping wedge members and slidably move the latter into binding engagement with said bolt. y

3. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door comprising a casing, a support therein presenting spaced inclined surfaces, spaced opposed wedgeshaped clamping members slidable in said casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one direction, and pivoted opposed bolt engaging elements mounted for swinging movement in passages formed in said clamping wedge members, said pivoted elements projecting into the path of travel of said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to actuate said clamping wedge members and slidably move the latter into binding engagement with said bolt.

4. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door comprising a casing, a support therein presenting spaced inclined surfaces, spaced opposedwedgeshaped clamping members slidable in said casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one direction, pivoted opposed bolt engaging elements projecting into the path of travel of said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween, and cam means cooperating with said pivoted bolt engaging elements and said wedge members to cause sliding movement of the latter into clamping engagement with said bolt.

5. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door comprising a casing, a support therein presenting spaced inclined surfaces, spaced opposed wedgeshaped clamping members slidable in said casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one direction, and pivoted opposed bolt engaging elements projecting into the path of travel of said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to actuate said clamping wedge members and slidably move the latter into binding engagement with said bolt, said bolt engaging elements having the bolt contacting portions f arcuate contour, arcuate slots of a shape cooperating with said arcuate surfaces for moving said wedge members uniformly as the bolt enters between and moves along said-arcuate-shaped members.

6. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door comprising a casing, a support therein presenting spaced inclined surfaces, spaced opposed wedgeshaped clamping members slidable in said casing along said inclined surfaces for movement both outwardly and towards said bolt to engage and hold the latter against movement in one direction, pivoted opposed boit engaging elements projecting into the path of travel o1' said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to actuate said clamping wedge members and/slidably move the latter into binding engagement with said bolt, and resilient means permitting said support to move vertically in said casing whereby said support may adjust itself relative to said bolt.

7. A keeper device for a latch bolt comprising a pair of members in spaced relation providing a wedge shaped opening, and means responsive to the entering of a latch bolt at the narrow end of said wedge shaped opening to actuate said members toward each other into engagement with the bolt.

8. A keeper device for a latch bolt comprising a. pair of members in spaced relation providing a wedge shaped opening, and non-resilient means responsive to the entering of a latch bolt at the narrow end of said Wedge shaped opening to actuate said members toward each other into engagement with the bolt. n

9. A keeper device for a latch bolt comprising a pair of bodily movable slidable members inspaced relation providing a wedge shaped opening, and means responsive to the entering' of a latch bolt at the narrow end of said wedge shaped opening to slide the members outwardly toward the bolt and at the same time to actuate said members toward each other into engagement with the bolt. V

10. A keeper device for a latch bolt comprising a pair oi.' members in spaced relation and shaped on their bolt engaging edges to provide a wedge shaped opening, guiding surfaces cooperating with the other portions of the members to cause the members to move toward each other upon sliding movement of the members along said surfaces, and means responsive to the entering of a latch bolt in said wedge shaped opening to slide said members relative to said guiding surfaces.

11. A keeper device for a latch bolt comprising a pair of members in spaced relation and shaped on their edges nearest each other to provide a wedge shaped opening, guiding surfaces cooperating with the edges of the members distant from each other to cause the members to move toward each other upon sliding movement of the members along said surfaces, and means responsive to the entering of a latch bolt in said wedge shaped opening to slide said members relative to said guiding surfaces.

12. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door, comprising spaced clamping means carried by the the keeper movable outwardly towards the bolt as the same moves into the space between said clamping means, and means in the path of travel of the bolt and movable by the bolt to operate `said clamping means and cause the latter to move both outwardly and towards the bolt into clamping engagement therewith to rmly grip and hold the same against movement in one direction.

13. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door, comprising spaced clamping means carried by the keeper and movable outwardly towards the bolt as the same moves into the space between said clamping means, and movable means projecting in the path of travel of the bolt and actuated by the bolt as the same moves between said spaced means to operate said clamping means and cause the latter to move outwardly and towards the bolt into clamping engagement therewith to firmly grip and hold the same against movement in one direction.

14. A keeper device for the latch bolt of a door. comprising spaced clamping means carried by the keeper and outwardly movable towards the bolt as the same moves into the space between said clamping means, and. spaced piveted means in the path of travel of the bolt and actuated by the movement of said bolttherebetween to operate said clamping means and cause the latter to move outwardly and towards the bolt into clamping engagement therewith to firmly grip and hold the same against movement in one direction.

15. A keeper device for the latchfbolt of a door, comprising spaced clamping means carried by the keeper and slidably arranged for movement towards and from the bolt, and separable means in the path of travel ofthe bolt andV movable thereby as the bolt moves 'therebetween tol operate said clamping meansA and cause the latter to move both outwardly and towards the bolt into clamping engagement therewith to rmly grip. and hold the sameagainst movement in one direction.

16. A keeper device for the latch bolt o! a door, comprising spaced slidable clamping means carried by the keeper and movable outwardly towards the bolt, and movable means associated `with said clamping means and projecting into the path of travel of the bolt and movable by the bolt as the same moves between said clamping means to cause the latter to `move both outwardly and towards the bolt into clamping engagement against the top and bottom surfaces of the bolt to rmly gripA and hold the same..

17. A keeper device for a tapered latch -bolt having outwardly converging top and bottom sur faces, spaced clamping means movable outwardly and towards the bolt, said clamping means having complemental tapered portionsv adapted to engage `and bind against the converging surfaces of the bolt when the latter is in a clamped position, and separable means in the path o! travel of said bolt and movable thereby as the bolt enters therebetween to operate vsaid clamping means and cause the latter to move towards the bolt into clamping engagement therewith to firmly grip and hold the same.

18. A keeper device for a latch bolt, a support, a pair of clamping members movably mounted in opposed spaced relation on said support, and actuating means disposed in the path of travel of the bolt and swngable relative to said clamping members for moving the latter into clamping engagement w'ith the bolt to rmly grip and clamp the same. y e

19. A keeper device for a latch bolt, a support, a pair of spaced opposed clamping members movably mounted on said support, land actuating means disposed in the path of travel of the bolt pivotally mounted on said support and swingable relative to said clamping members for moving the latter into clamping engagement with the bolt to iirrnly grip and clamp the same.

20. A keeper device for a latch bolt, a support, a pair of spaced opposed clamping members movably mounted on said support, and separable means projecting inthe path of travel of Vthe bolt and movable thereby as the bolt moves therebetween, said last named means being swingable relative to said clamping members for moving path o f the bolt to be engKed and moved by the bolt, and means .cooperating with said. levers and said clamping members for causing movement oi the latter into clamping engagement with the sides of the bolt to clamp and gripthe same as the bolt moves into position between the clamping members after engaging said levers, thebolt being arrangedto swing withvthe door as it moves into a closed position to be` clamped by.

saidlclamping members and adapted to be withdrawn therei'romout of binding engagement with said members by retraction iny the plane of the door.

22. In a keeper device for the bolt of a motor vehicle door, comprising a casing, a support movably mountedv therein, clamping means slidably mounted on said support and movable both 'outwardly and relatively toward and from each other, pivotally movable means connected to each of said clamping means and projecting in the path oi.' travel of the bolt lto be actuated thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to move said clamping means into binding engagement with the topand bottom surface portions of the bolt to iirmly grip and clamp the same against movement in one direction, and means for permitting relative yielding movement of said casing and said support to ,maintain the alignment and latchingfposition of the bolt and said clamping means irrespective oi.' any twisting movement o! the vehicle body and frame parts.

- 23. In a latch device for.I a motor vehicle door,l

having a bolt comprising a casing, a support yieldably mounted therein, spacedl clamping means slidably mounted 1on said support and movable both outwardly and relatively toward and from each other, pivoted 'members connected to said clamping means and projecting in opposed relation in the path of otravel of the bolt to be actuated thereby as the bolt moves therebetween to move said clamping means into binding engagement with a pair of surface portions of the bolt to firmly grip and clamp the same, and spring-actuated means .to automatically take-up for wear which may develop in said clamping means.

24. In combination a keeper device comprising a pairy of members spaced to present between them an opening' with Ya restricted entrance mouth, a bolt i'or entering said opening having a large entering portion and restricted to provide lesser dimension across it back of said larger portion, and means responsive to the movement o! the bolt into the opening to move said members toward each other.

25. In combination a keeper device comp'islng a pair oi' members spaced to present be ween them a tapered opening with a restricted entrance mouth, a tapered bolt with the large jend the leading end for entrance into said opening and means responsive to the movement of the bolt into the opening to move said members toward each other. i

26. In combination a keeper device comprising a pair oi members spaced to present between them a tapered opening with a restricted entrance mouth, a tapered bolt with the large end the leading end for entrance into said opening, the'taper of said opening and bolt corresponding, and means responsive to the movement of the bolt into 'the opening to move said members toward each other.

HERBERT P. SWEET. 

